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| Saturday 18th July 2009 | Gretna V Whitley Bay | 0-2 | ||
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Match Report By Julian Tyley This day trip across the border in mid July sounded an attractive proposition when the list of pre-season friendlies was announced. The British weather could not be relied upon of course and following Friday’s monsoon conditions, flooded roads caused diversions for fans and during the game there were several torrential downpours with thunder and lightning thrown in for good measure. The game itself was another enjoyable and entertaining affair with Whitley eventually running out deserved winners thanks to two second half goals. Before kick off, Lee Kerr, who was captain for the day in the absence of David Coulson, brought the FA Vase onto the Raydale Park pitch, to the applause of the Gretna team and match officials. In all likelihood, history was being made as this was probably the first time that the trophy had ever crossed the border into Scotland. Gretna, who reformed last year as Gretna 2008 after the SPL side collapsed, had already played several pre-season games and started brightly with some neat moves on the good playing surface. Whitley’s first opportunity came after ten minutes when Lee Kerr’s free kick from a central position some 25 yards from goal took a deflection and crashed off the bar with the keeper beaten. Nine minutes later Gretna should have gone ahead when they broke clear on the right but at full stretch, Terry Burke pushed the shot onto the post and gathered the ball as it rebounded to him. Chris Moore had the beating of his fullback, outpacing him several times and from one such incident his cross beat everyone and flew beyond the far post. A few minutes later, Lee Picton’s throw from the right was cleared only as far as Paul Robinson, whose volley flashed wide of goal. The half time whistle came as some relief to both sides following a heavy downpour that soaked the players and left the surface slippery. Nine minutes into the second half, Callum Anderson was replaced by Phil Bell as Whitley stepped up a gear. Following a right wing corner, Kerr saw an excellent header from just beyond the back post well saved on the line. Chow and Robinson made way for Reay and Hay shortly after the hour mark and the home side also made changes. A cleverly worked set piece led to Whitley breaking the deadlock with 68 minutes played after one of a number of fouls conceded by Gretna in dangerous positions. An indirect free kick for obstruction resulted in Kerr lobbing the ball over the static home defence and Phil Bell raced clear to slot the ball past the keeper from an acute angle. Whitley were comfortably on top and the home side struggled to penetrate a solid looking defence in which Ryan, Picton and McFarlane gave little away. Four minutes from time, Whitley made the game safe when Chris Moore’s right wing corner was perfectly placed for Lee Picton to rise above the home defence and head firmly into the roof of the net. To round off the day, the return journey saw more flooded roads and thunderstorms – yes a typical summer’s day! WHITLEY BAY: Burke, Anderson(Bell 53mins), McFarlane, Robinson(Reay 62mins), Picton, Ryan, Moore, Robson(Morien 68mins), Kerr, Chow(Hay 62mins), Hodgson
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